Alan Shearer claims Rafa Benitez had Javier Hernandez and Tammy Abraham “ready to come” to Newcastle United during the summer transfer window.

Benitez has admitted in public on numerous occasions that the Magpies had agreed the framework of a loan deal for Abraham with his parent club Chelsea, before Swansea City eventually signed up the forward as United dallied in completing the transfer.

However, former Manchester United forward Hernandez joined West Ham United from Bayer Leverkusen for £16million during the summer, but Shearer has suggested that the Mexican almost signed for Newcastle.

Alan Shearer and Rafa Benitez

What’s more, Shearer has also lauded Benitez for the job he has done at St James’ Park - particularly when it comes to the transfer market.

Benitez has spent roughly £91m and recouped in the region of £103m during his time at the helm, meaning the Spaniard has actually made the club a profit of £12m.

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“I think he’s definitely got the vast majority of the backing from the Newcastle fans,” Shearer said of Benitez during Saturday night’s Match of the Day on BBC One.

“Newcastle, with the current owner, is a very, very difficult club to manage and we’ve witnessed that in the past.

“He wanted to bring players in - I know he had Javier Hernandez and Tammy Abraham ready to come in, those deals were pulled at the last minute, which is why he had to spend £5m on Joselu to bring another body in.